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Marin Manzanita: Most species of manzanita require heat from fire to break seed coats and stimulate seed germination. The Marin Manzanita, Arctostaphylos virgata, is a rare plant endemic to Marin County which flourished after the Vision Fire.

Blue Blossom Ceanothus: After a fire, much of the nitrogen in an ecosystem must be replentished by nitrogen fixing plants such as species of ceanothus. Numerous seeds of blue blossom ceanothus (Ceanothus thysiflorus) which had been residing dormant in the soil germinated in response to the Vision Fire, resulting in abundant growth throughout the burn area.

Charcoal: Water washes over charcoal remains from fire, leaching compounds into the soil which is an important germination cue for some fire adapted species. Charcoal fragments also wash down through the watershed and collect in ponds or lakes, preserving a history of fire events in sedimentary deposits.

Tagging Vegetation: During home evaluations, vegetation that needs to be thinned or removed is marked with flagging tape. This helps the homeowner create a landscaping plan for reducing hazardous fuels around their home.

Newspaper Inserts: "People, Parks & Fire", a 12-page Special Section in the Marin Independent Journal reached 36,000 subscribers in 2002. This section celebrated the 10-year anniversary of FIRESafe Marin, and highlighted how the National Fire Plan is being implemented in Marin County, California. Extra copies were made available in post offices in the vicinity of Point Reyes National Seashore. Additional copies were distributed to schools. You can find a link to this publication under the Fire Education section of this website.

Is It a Red Flag Day?: Another Special Section was produced in 2003, which focused on the causes of wildfire in Marin County and guidelines for defensible space. This section was distributed to 36,000 IJ subscribers, and an additional 4,000 copies were sent to residents in the vicinity of Point Reyes National Seashore after the devastating fires in Southern California. The severity of these fires was a result of weather conditions. A Red Flag Day is designated when sustained winds and dry conditions create a weather forecast in which fire will be very difficult to control. You can find a link to this publication under the Fire Education section of this website.

Fire and Life Safety Day: Fire and Life Safety Day is an annual event coordinated by the Fire Prevention Officers of Marin County. During the 2003 event, held in Corte Madera, an intern from Point Reyes teaches families about campfire safety and firefighter safety. This annual event takes place in October, on the Saturday before Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is the week October 8 falls in and commemorates two major fires that occurred on October 8, 1871 – the Great Chicago Fire, and the Peshtigo Fire in which over 1,000 lives were lost.

School Presentation: During Fire Prevention Week, students learn Smokey's number one message: “Never Play with Matches, Lighters, or Fire!” Smokey's message is still important today because fire started by accident continues to cause injury, damage, and loss. However, we also know that wildland fire can have many ecological benefits when it is managed properly.

Camp Smokey: Camp Smokey is a special event at the California State Fair in Sacramento. Families visit a series of stations where they learn about fire safety, disaster preparedness, fire ecology, and Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

Visiting the Ranger Station at Camp Smokey: At Camp Smokey's ranger station, visitors hear the story of the real Smokey Bear who was rescued from a forest fire in New Mexico and eventually made his home at the National Zoo in Washington DC.

The Science of Firefighting at the Exploratorium: During a special event at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, firefighters from Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area demonstrated the tools and strategies they use to fight wildland fire.

Burning Issues CD-Rom: Here a high school student working at the Exploratorium explores the Burning Issues CD-Rom developed by Florida State University and the Bureau of Land Management. This interactive program includes a virtual tour of the National Interagency Fire Center in Idaho, and a series of "ecoventures" which teach students about prescribed fire, fire suppression, fire ecology, and firewise communities.